Off to a Good Start:
Mental Health Promotion for Young Children
This is a hopeful time for children’s mental health. Research, advocacy, and policy have come together to create the impetus to integrate mental health promotion into systems and programs that care for young children.
This environment creates unique opportunities for health professionals working with children, and their families and care givers. States in the region are transforming their state mental health systems, and state legislators and policy makers are listening.
In the winter 2008 issue, you'll learn what states are doing to integrate prevention into mental health systems, improve quality of care, and educate care givers of young children. You'll also find links to programs that support the mental health of children and their families, and resources for training and advocacy. Your start so that you can help children get off to a good start.
- Michelle Terry discusses the importance of promoting healthy social and emotional development in children and reviews prevention efforts in the region.
- Sheri Hill provides information on early childhood development, the prevalence of behavior problems and their costs to society, and what we can do to promote children's mental health.
- Craig McLaughlin gives a brief overview of the development of a public health approach to mental health.
- Debra Lochner Doyle provides information on the importance of early hearing screening for infant mental health .
- The state reports highlight many successful activities promoting children's mental health.
This publication is supported with grant 6T76 MC 00011 from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (Title V, Social Security Act), Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Web site updated: April 21, 2008
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Maternal and Child Public Health Leadership Training Program
University of Washington
Box 357230
Seattle, WA 98195
